|| SeXiEsT RaNbIr KaPoOr || FC (Page 141)

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.Tanya.Coolbie

Sometime last year, director Anurag Kashyap declared that he could "give his right arm to work with Ranbir Kapoor." Did that sound like a bit of an exaggeration? Not to those who have been following the 30-year-old actor's career, which began in 2007 with the convention-defying Saawariya.

Ranbir Kapoor is unlike any other male actor working in the Mumbai movie industry today. In fact, he has little in common even with his talented dad Rishi Kapoor, let alone with all the other iconic entertainers who have, over four generations, made his clan the "first family" of Hindi cinema.

Ranbir, as malleable as clay, has steadfastly resisted being typecast. His illustrious granddad Raj Kapoor ' whose full name was Ranbir Raj Kapoor ' had a screen image, and so did his grand-uncles Shammi and Shashi Kapoor. Rishi was essentially a romantic hero, while Ranbir's uncle, Randhir Kapoor, cultivated the persona of a comic lead actor.

Ranbir, however, cannot be placed in a fixed slot because he has refused to repeat himself. That apart, he has pushed the boundaries of stardom so far beyond the standard considerations of box office collection that he is one rare Bollywood actor whose work is always discussed for its craft rather than for any superficial packaging around it.

Ranbir plunges headlong into a role, mentally and physically. Carrying on from where he left in Rockstar (2011) and Barfi! (2012), he is now reported to be working to gain as much as 15 kilos in order to play the central role in Anurag Basu's proposed Kishore Kumar biopic.

From a temperamental, trouble-prone musician in Rockstar to a Chaplinesque deaf-mute in Barfi!, Ranbir has completely redefined the rules of engagement for Bollywood star-actors. And when he does come up with his interpretation of the life, work and nuances of a true movie industry genius, Ranbir will in all likelihood set another significant professional benchmark.

It is wonderfully refreshing to see a Bollywood star unmindful of what the audience expects. Ranbir can deliver a film that rakes in big bucks (Barfi! made almost as much money as any Bollywood blockbuster last year) without having to compromise with the essence of the character that he chooses to essay on screen.

A high level of commitment and genuine understanding of the basics of screen acting enable him to immerse oneself completely in a role and yet retain the essential individuality that gives a star his crowd-pleasing edge. In that respect, Ranbir Kapoor is in a league of his own.

Whether a director like Prakash Jha, known for hard-hitting films about real socio-political issues, ropes him in for a somewhat bloated thriller (Raajneeti) or a more mainstream filmmaker like Raj Kumar Santoshi throws him into an uneven love story (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani), Ranbir manages to come up a performance that has the stamp of a man who can go all out even if all the creative odds are not exactly stacked in his favour.

But when he has an author-backed role like the one in 2009's Wake Up Sid, he plays his cards with restraint, does not overreach and get ahead of the script, and lets the inner dynamic of the character graph carry him and the film forward.

Wake Up Sid was a coming-of-age drama that drew its inspiration from life ' the perfect platform for a natural actor like Ranbir to demonstrate his depth. His performance in the film provided glimpses of the rare emotional resonance that he can generate with barely visible effort. And then, remarkably, he can go on to tap a high degree of physicality to bring the characters in Rockstar and Barfi! to life.

On the anvil are films that are poles apart from each. At one end of the spectrum is Abhinav "Dabangg" Kashyap's Besharam, a film in which Ranbir shares screen footage with not only father, but also his mother Neetu Singh, besides Indian-Australian actress Pallavi Sharda.

The other film starring Ranbir that will arrive in the multiplexes in 2013 is Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, directed by Wake Up Sid's Ayan Mukherjee and co-starring Deepika Padukone and Kalki Koechlin.

Interestingly, both films have a link with Anurag Kashyap, the maverick poster boy of the new brand of Mumbai cinema that blends artistic value with commercial viability in a manner that has rarely been seen before. While the director of Besharam is Kashyap's brother, one of the lead actresses of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Kalki, is his wife.

So that brings us back to Anurag's 'desire' to work with Ranbir. It could become a reality pretty soon. Kashyap's Bombay Velvet, a period film set in Bombay, is pretty close to seeing the light of day. The film was originally supposed to be toplined by Aamir Khan, but now it is Ranbir who is in the frame.

Adapted from portions of Mumbai Fables, a book authored by historian Gyan Prakash, the film dramatizes the life of Datta Samant, a leader of the city's mill workers who spearheaded many strikes and agitations in the 1970s, one of which eventually led to the closure of a large number of textile units in Mumbai in the 1980s.

.Tanya.Coolbie

Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone's YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWAN to open big!

Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone's YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWAN to open big!

April 17, 2013 02:39:06 PM ISTBy Abid, Glamsham Editorial

The year 2013 has been very dull for the Hindi film industry, as far as the box-office is concerned. In fact no film till now has achieved the super-hit status. There was a lot of hope that Sajid Khan'sHIMMATWALA would be the first 100 crore hit of the year, but that was not to be, and all eyes are now focused on the latest super star, Ranbir Kapoor, to give the industry its first super hit or let's say, even a blockbuster!

The reason is that stars Ranbir Kapoor, who is now a bankable star, especially after the commercial and critical success of ROCKSTAR followed by BARFI! which swept the awards. And then it reunites real life 'jodi' of Ranbir-Deepika, and the audience is really very excited to see them back together on screen. Moreover the scenic and picturesque locales of the pristine Kullu - Manali (especially Jalori pass!) adds to the romance, as can be seen in the promos.

Even the music of the film by Pritam has become very popular amongst the youth, and two songs,''Badtameez Dil'' and the 'Holi' song, ''Balam Pichkari'' are already chartbusters. Additionally, the film is releasing in the midst of the long summer holiday and so the timing of the release too is very appropriate.

The director Ayan Mukerji has already shown his potential in WAKE UP SID!, which co-incidentally starred Ranbir Kapoor, and was much appreciated critically and was a commercial success too. And of course let's not forget Karan Johar's Dharma Productions which has positioned YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI as a premier product, and will make sure that the film gets the best release and also very good promotion, which is already being witnessing.

All the above factors will surely go a long way in ensuring that YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI embarks upon a big initial when it releases worldwide of 31st May 2013.

.Tanya.Coolbie

First look: Ranbir Kapoor licks lollipop on the sets of 'Besharam'

New Delhi, April 29: While his upcoming flick 'Ye Jawaani hai Deewani' is making rounds for its craziness as witnessed in the trailers and songs, the new look of Ranbir Kapoor in the second venture this year 'Besharam' is also garnering similar attention.

The new grab taken from the sets of Besharam in Chandigarh could see Ranbir Kapoor licking a lollipop like a kid.

Ranbir Kapoor has done it again. After finding tremendous critical as well as commercial acclaim coming his way for an offbeat BARFI!, he is now turning into a quintessential Bollywood romantic lover boy forYEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI. For producer Karan Johar, who had earlier roped him in for another offbeat film WAKE UP SID, this is time for celebration as well since the Ayan Mukerji directed affair is the first out and out commercial film that Ranbir has picked up after AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI.

''Well, the film is very different from AJAB PREM... though. Having said that, it is true that Ranbir is playing the lover boy of Hindi cinema for the very first time. He is dancing to the melodies and would be making you share his laughter and tears. He is being ably supported by the mainstream magic,'' says Karan Johar.

No wonder, it is expected that audience would be more than happy to lap him up in the 'avatar' that they have been waiting to catch him in for quite a while.

''They should be. After all today, Ranbir is possibly one of the most versatile actors that we have,'' adds Karan, ''There is nothing that he can't do. He is becoming an indispensable part of the film fraternity and it can be safely presumed that we can't do without him. He has to be around.''

Well, audience too is expected to be rallying around him when the film releases all over on 31st May 2013.

.Tanya.Coolbie

It isn't unusual for co-stars to praise each other's performances in films. But even though Ranbir Kapoor has never worked with Kangana Ranaut, the actor recently went all out to compliment her after watching the rushes of her upcoming film, Queen.

A source says, "Ranbir bumped into Vikas Bahl (director of Queen) a few days ago and since they both are good friends, Vikas showed him the rushes of his film. Anushka Sharmawas also with Ranbir at that time as they both were headed for a script meeting for their next film, Bombay Velvet. So, she also watched the rushes. They both were very impressed with Kangana's work and they sent her an SMS to tell her that they couldn't wait to watch the film in the theatre."

Though Ranbir, Vikas and Anushka remained unavailable for comments, Kangana confirms the news. She says, "I loved Ranbir's performance in Rockstar (2011) and Anushka's work in Band Baaja Baaraat (2010). But whenever I've thought of messaging them to tell them this in person, I've always felt shy. They have been so kind to me. I feel bad that I haven't been as courteous. But I look forward to watching Bombay Velvet. I am sure I'll get many more opportunities to praise their work."

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